Chapter 11

Back when he said, “I already had some money?” (Chapter 5 first line.). He had ... from his principal occupation ... singer/song writer/bass player in a touring country band ... who shall remain nameless ... residuals that funded his travel and hobbies. This was some years ago ... before Homeland Security was a gleam in a future presidents eye. Drivers Licenses didn’t have pictures on them. False identity documents were easier to obtain and use. And banks weren’t so picky about deposits.

Back in time, Banks generally offered gifts to first time depositors ... toasters, luggage, even gift certificates ... as long as a deposit had the continuing amount on deposit. The ‘rewards’ weren’t made in China ... no ... U.S.A ... and not USA. USA was a manufacturing town in Japan. We had just finished a war with them.

No making a deposit for the gift and immediately withdrawing the balance.

A kinder gentler time. Back when small town kids knew every cop in town by their first name ... there is a codicil to that ... the cop knew every kid in town by name ... and actions.

His agents knew but in acient times, “Don’t say anything,’ meant something ... and a man’s word was his bond.

Ranting ... I know.

You remember last time. They were visiting his daughter and she decided Marion, the Librarian, would make a stepmom.

Marion hadn’t.

Marion had ... but not marrige ... not yet. She was having too much fun. ‘Winter is coming. Let’s see what the old man is like when he hibernates.’

The party at Beck’s was an eye-opener. He wrote some of her favorite music. And he was inventive in the sack. ‘Actually,’ she thought, ‘He was careful of my needs before his. None of my casual college “Romances” were as satisfying.’

She was still ruminating about this, that and the other when he came to the door.

“We’re packed and ready ... let’s go.”

‘Oh my god ... he took down the lodge and packed the ‘mules’ ... and that’s another thing ... I have NEVER laughed so hard as I did coming down into the valley ... it was embarrassing ... exhilarating ... and so set the stage for the shoot. Daddy was never that much fun.’

“Bye Daddy,” Beck said, grinning.

She got the hug of a favorite daughter. Her husband, Billy, got the hug of ‘still seeing how this marriage is working.’

‘She keeps a neat house ... especially for a house with big dogs.’

Marion got the hugs of an accepted newbie ... more than a handshake but still ‘seeing.’

This time she got the truck (mules) tour ... and the first thing was the hidden step on the passenger side. Last time, before the shoot, David was mighty friendly with her bottom, helping her up to the seat. He showed her where the switch that lowered the step that made entering the van easy. He introduced her to the engine, a slant six, and demonstrated the ability to sit up under the underside. This was a tall ‘mule. Meeting the engine was an ‘expedition’. The climb up the bumper took some doing. She was standing on the winch cover while he pointed out the finer details of the swap.

“You did this.”

“Yes, What you’re looking at is the combination of two pickups and two Forest Service vans. Took about a week.”

“Why are you showing me this?”

“It’s your turn to drive.”